Day 3 – January Daily Blog Posting Month.
So, this daily blog thing isn’t the only challenge I have set for myself.
Like most people, I made a few resolutions for January 1.
Resolution #1 – cut back on the treats. Since getting pregnant and delivering the baby (so, yeah, the better part of a year), I have been indulging in the sweets. Be it ice cream, cookies, chocolate, you name it, I have eaten it. Caramel popcorn? Check. Chocolate popcorn? Check. Ice cream? Check. Daily dessert after dinner? Check. I am shocked that I don’t tip the scales more than I already do. I had this notion that the sweet tooth would magically vanish after the baby was born. Truth be told, it got worse. A lot worse! By the end of December, it became apparent to me that not only was I not losing the baby weight, I actually gained several pounds. Cue the panic button. Which leads me to….
Resolution #2 – run more frequently. Since early November, when I started back to running, I have been only going 1-2 times a week. Sometimes as long as 10 days between runs. Well, clearly this isn’t the way to build up my distance or my endurance, or encourage weight loss. So, I set a new goal. I would run 3 times a week (barring any extreme weather). And, by the end of January, I vow that I will be….
Resolution #3 – running 5km consistently. Eventually I would like to be able to run 5km without stopping, but for now I will settle with steady 5:1 intervals. I am already running mostly 4:1 intervals, so this should be entirely do-able.
Resolution #4 – complete two other exercise challenges. While surfing on Pinterest, I found two challenges that I think I can master this month. The first is a 200 squat challenge and the second is to be able to do an elbow plank for 3 minutes. I am also throwing in, for good measure, a beginners Pilates 10 minute workout. It’s been 3 days and I can already feel the difference in my core as well as see it in my figure. But, it hurts. Oh, does it ever hurt!
So, there you have it. I am on a mission this month to get healthy. While the goal is weight loss, I know I can’t realistically expect a lot while I continue to breastfeed. So, for the time being, my goal is to eat better, exercise more, and with any luck, my clothes might just start to fit a bit better.